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The Silver Palace of Kyunglung. Here lies the heart of the ancient!
Before the Tibetan Empire emerged in the 7th century, there existed the kingdom of Shangshung with its own religion and culture. The Silver Palace of Kyunglung was the legendary seat of its rulers.
Ancient Tibetan tribes were once controlled by enigmatic rulers of the Shangshung kingdom. Very little is known about them. These were times preceding Buddhism in these lands.
Kyunglung was a legendary palace of the rulers. According to accounts, it was said to be made of gold, with rear walls of silver, corners adorned with agate, and copper roofs. How much of this holds truth?
The Ancient Shangshung Kingdom
According to recorded sources, the first rulers of Tibet were said to have descended from the heavens to unite all tribes. They conquered the supreme power of a country called Shangshung. While much remains unknown about this land, archaeological studies since the early 21st century focus on uncovering the existence of this mysterious kingdom.
Shangshung was situated in the desert regions of western Tibet. Its extent remains unknown, and even its structure is a mystery. Was it a chieftaincy, a tribal alliance, or a kingdom? Nonetheless, it controlled crucial trade routes connecting the East and West.
